Cable-tube for traction-railways



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. S. H. TERRY.

CABLE TUBE FOR TRAGTION RAILWAYS.

No. 270,506. Patented Jan.9,1883.,

I I I Dwc/Zf07" 2 Sheets-Sheet (No Model.)

S. H. TERRY.

CABLE TUBE FOR TRACTION RAIL-WAYS.

Patented Ja n. 9,1883.

1/ 9 in I Java-711412? llNiTED STATES 1 PATENT met.

CABLE-TUBE FOR TRACTlON RAlLWAYS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 270,506, dated January9, 1883.

, Application filed April 4, 1882. (No model.) Patented in EnglandSeptember 27, 1882, No. 4,601.

To all whom it may concern: 0

Be it known that I, SAMUEL H. TERRY, formerly of Guthrie, Gallowaycounty, Missouri, 7

now residing at Chicago, in the county of'Cook and Stateot"lllinois,andacitizen of the United States, have invented new anduseful Improvements in Tubes or Passage-Ways of Cables used inPropelling Cars, 850., of which the following is a full description,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l isaplan view; Fig.2, a cross-section on line was of Fig.1; Fig. 3, anenlarged crosssection on line y y of Fig. 1; Fig, 4, a crosssectiononlinezzofFig. 6; Fig.5, a perspective side elevation Fig. 6, a planview of the curved section; Fig. 7, a longitudinal section, showing amethod of constructing the tube where the anti-friction or hearingwheels are placed; and Fig. 8 is a modification of the main tube forbetter adaptation to paving-blocks.

The object of this invention is to form an improved tube or passage-wayfor cables used in propelling cars; and its nature consists in providingthe tube with enlargements or pockets, so thatlarge bearingoranti-friction wheels may be used with a small tube; in providing thehorizontal bearing-wheels with a device for retaining the cable; inproviding the main tube at the pockets or near the verticalbearing-wheels with inclines for liftingthegripper or easing it over thebearing-Wheels; in pro' viding the tube with a side pipe or passage forconveying the water around the box, and in the several devices andcombinations of devices hereinal'ter set forth and claimed as new.

In the drawings, A indicates the main tube; 13, the cross-ties; C, thestringers or longitudinal timbers upon which the rails for the cars arefastened; D, the vertical and D the horizontal bearing anti-frictionwheels; E, the water passage around the bearing-wheel pocket; F and F,pockets for the vertical and horizontal bearing-wheels; G, G, and G,doors or man-hole covers for obtaining access to the bearingwheels orinto the tube; H, hollow axles for the bearing-wheels; H and H, bentportions of the axles or tubular connections therewith for lubricatingthe wheels; I, the cable; J, the inclines at the pockets and within themain tube; K, shields or guards-by which the cable is prevented fromgetting above the horizontal bearing-wheels on curves; to, strengtheningflanges or ribs on the main tube; 0, boundary-plates; 0, interiorprojections for keeping the cable on the bearing-wheels; d, bearing forthe horizontal wheels; 0, perforations for lubricating the hearings orshafts H; f, opening at the bottom of a pocket for the escape of anywater which may get'in; g, groove in the bearingwheel D; h, fasteningfor the door or manhole covering: i, points or projections on theguard-plate K; j, a curve-guide, and 7c ledge or stop. a

The main tubeA is made of cast-iron, and is cast with the cross-ties Battached, which crossties not only form the supports for the stringersof the track, but also for the tube itself. The tube is provided withstrengthening flanges or ribs a, which may beplaced as frequently asdesired, and their number would be somewhat in accordance with thethickness ot'the main plate, which thickness for ordinary purposes willbe about three-eighths of an inch. This tube is made in sections, andone end may be reduced in size, as shown at A in 'Fig. 5, to fit acorresponding socket on the end of the adjoining section; or both endsmay be formed as shown at A and fitted into a corresponding but separatesocket wide enough for both ends; or the ends may be secured byproviding them with flanges, which can be bolted together with orwithoutintervening packing material. Alternate sections, or as manysections asmay be needed for that purpose, are provided with'depressionsor pockets F for the purpose of inserting large bearing anti-frictionwheels.

Whenever it is desired to run a cable rapidly small bearing-wheelscannot be used, as their motion becomes 0 rapid that they wear rapidlyand are liable 0 heat. Their situation is such that their wear orheating cannot be observed in time to take care of them, and running, asthey do, where dirt and dust are always liable to accumulate or settle,this difficulty is a serious one; and I avoid it by the use of thepockets, which enable me to insert bearing-wheels two or three feet indiameter, so that the cable may have a travel of siX or nine feet toeach revolution of the bearingwheel, and I am thereby enabled to givethe cable a. much greater speed with the use of a small or ordinarysized tube than has heretofore been given them for their ordinary working. These bearing-wheelsD are supported in said pockets, as shown inFigs. 3 and 5, and I prefer to support them 011 the non-rotating hollowaxles H, as shown, as they are less liable to accumulate dirt, and aremuch more easily lubricated, for by extending the parts H up oil can beturned in without opening the man-hole covering or door, so that thedooris only required to be opened when changes or repairs are necessary.

The hollow axles are provided with small or fine openings 0 when oil isto be used for the lubricator. If, however, heavy oils or tallow is tobe used, then they will be made somewhatlarger, but still not largeenough to pass oil or tallow too easily.

The perforations e are not shown for the horizontal wheels D, but theyare used the same, and their position is such that suificient oil orlubricating material will flow down and lubricate the shoulder orbearing (1. These axles may also be projected up, as shown at 11, Fig.4, so that they may be oiled through the slit or opening at the top ofthe main tube.

In order to prevent any water which may gather within the main tube fromrunning into and remaining in the pockets F, I have provided a side tubeor passage, E, which takes the water around the pocket, as shown inFigs. 3, and 7. This passage may be cast with the pipe, or sections ofround iron pipe may be used for this purpose, and in some localities itmay be advisable to run a side tube the whole length of the main tube,and connect it with the main tube by side openings, so as to relieve themain tube from water its entire length; buttorordina-ry purposes thepassages E around the pockets F will be sufficient. The inclines J,Figs. 3 and 7, prevent the water from following the main pipe into thepockets]? and cause it to pass into the passage or tube E. Theseinclines also serve to gradually raise the gripper, so that in itsapproach to the bearing-wheels D it will not strike them so as to injureeither wheel or gripper. For this one of the inclines would besufficient; but I prefer to ease the gripper down, instead of allowingit to drop, so that I place these inclines J on both sides of thepockets or of the bearingwheels, as shown at Fig. 7. This causes thegripper to pass each vertical bearing-wheel with an easy movement.

The doors or man-hole covers may be made single and fit into the flhbe,as shown at G, Fig. 5; but I prefer to make them lap over the tube, asshown at G,and to provide them with a flap or secondary hinged portion,G. By this arrangement the portion G can be turned back for inspectionor oiling, and the entire door will only require to be turned back whena new wheel or axle is to be introduced. The form of door or cover shownat G may be used in connection with the horizontal bearingwheels. Itsposition is such that it does not require any special fastening, whilethe door or cover G is fastened by the staple h and a key or by a look,if desired.

Whenever acurve in the main tube becomes necessary, as in turning streetcorners or in making branches,the bearin g-wheels are placedhorizontally, as shown at Figs. 4 and 6. In this case the bearing wheelpockets or enlargements extend horizontally, as at F.

The bearing-wheels D are shown at Fig. 4, and provided near their upperends with a groove, g, to hold and carry the cable I when in itsordinary travel; but as the gripper lifts the cable out from the groove,and is liable to lift it away from the wheel, I provide these horizontalbearing-wheels with guide-plates K, which are attached to thewheel-axles, and are provided with two prongs or projections, 11, asshown in Fig. 6.

When the gripper, in operation, comes against one of these projectionsit is so inclined as to turn the plate back and bring the oppositeprojection out over the cable, and as the gripper passes away from thewheel it strikes the farther point "i and thereby throws the first oneback again over the cable, so that it isimpossible for the gripper tolift the cable away from the bearing-wheel, while at the same time itreadily passes the bearing-wheel in its travel.

The pockets F F may be provided with openings ffor the escape of anywater that may accumulate therein while the cable is not in motion. Theordinary movement of the cable gives the bearing-wheels a sufiicientmovement to throw the water out of the pockets. I

The cross-ties are provided with sockets B, for holding the stringers inplace; but they may be left with inner shoulders and the stringers bebolted down, if desired.

The bars b of the main tube form the boundaries for the opening orpassage into the tube through which the gripper passes,and by their usea smooth finished boundary is given to the groove or opening, and bymaking them of wrought-iron they are less liable to be chipped or brokenby the passage ot heavy teams over or across them than they would be ifmade of cast-iron. They are bolted or riveted on, and may be made to lapjoints with the casting or not, as desired, for when bolted on they maybe made longer than the cast-iron sections.

In turning a curve it will be understood that the cable passes fromWheel to wheel in a straightline, and that ashcretofore constructedgreat difliculty has been experienced in gripping on a curve when thegripper has been released by stopping, which was frequently necessary inorder to avoid collisions. I avoid this difliculty by projecting thebearing-wheels D somewhat beyond the tube slit or opening, as shown inFig. 6, and by providing the interior of the tube on its longest sidewith the guide j, which in its construction follows the dotted lines ofsaid figure. This projection may be an interior plate when the form ofthe tube is preserved, or it maybe made in the tube itself by causing itto conform in its construction to the dotted line. By this constructionand arrangement and the use of a yieldin g or jointed gripper the cablecan be grasped at any point along the cable, except at a wheel. Theguide-plate or conformation j guides the gripper to the cable, and bycarrying the bearother strong rails are used stringers may not benecessary, and in that case all that will be required will be to placesome wooden plank ends or blocks in the openings B to avoid unduesolidity of the structure; and it will of course be understood that inleaving out the stringers the outer ends ofthe ties will be made higher,so as to give the rails their proper position, and when stringers areused blocks may beplaced with their fiber vertical between the ends ofthe stringer-sections, as shown in Fig. 1, which will prevent anysettling or bending of the rail at the points ofjunction in the tim ber,and when stringers are not used the openings B may be formed intosuitable chairs to hold the rail, or may be made large enough to admitofthe insertion of wrought-iron or other suitable chairs. I

If the gripper should inadvertently be released on a curve when againstone of the wheels D or under the plate K, I prevent the gripper frombeing drawn up so thatit cannot be again applied, and also so that itwill not throw the cable off from the wheel, by providing the main-tubewith ledges or shoulders 70, as shown at Fig. 4, which will prevent thelifting of the gripper and the consequent lifting of the cable. Theseledges are made of the form shown in cross-section, and are of thelength of the plate K with its projections. \Vith some forms of grippersone of the ledges or stops it will be sutficient. In other forms it willbe desirable to use both, as shown. 4 By this arrangement it isimpossible to lift the gripper away from the cable at a point where itcannot be reattached, and the cable is secu'red against being lifted outof or upon its bearing-wheel.

I do not claim a traction-rope railway-tube made in sections, eachsection being formed with arms adapted to support a tie on sills orstringers of a track, as such is not my invention.

\Vhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is asfollows:

1. The side passages, E, in combination with the pockets F and main tubeA, substantially as set forth.

2. The inclines J, in combination with the bearing-wheels D and maintube A, substantially as specified.

3. The inclines J, in combination with the pockets F, main tube A, andside passages, E, substantially as and for the purpose described.

4. The interior projections,o, in combination with the bearing-wheels 1)and main tube A, for preventing the cable from getting away from thebearing-wheels, substantially as set forth.

5. The hollow axle H, having the perforations 0, in combination with thewheels D and tubular extensions H, substantially as and for the purposespecified.

6. The combination of the horizontal wheels D with side extensions orpockets,F, and the vertical hollow axle H and H, substantially asspecified.

7. The oscillating plate K, having the projections or ELIlllSi, incombination with the horizontal bearing-wheel D, substantially asand forthe purpose described.

8. The firmly-attached softiron or steel boundary bars or plates b,incombination with cast sections of thetube A, to preserve the edges ofthe casting from chipping or breaking, substantially as described.

9. The gripper-guidej, in combination with acurve'd main tube,constructed and operating substantially as specified.

10. The gripper-guide j and curved main tube, in combination with thewheels D, lo-

cated within or partly within said main tube,

and projecting across the gripper slit or opening of the main tube,substantially as and' for the purpose specified.

11. The stop or stops k, in combination with the oscillating plate K andhorizontal bearingwheel D, substantially as and for the purposedescribed.

12. The stop orstops k, in combination with the main tube A and ahorizontal bearingwheel, substantially as set forth.

13. The combination of acurved main tube, having the guide j and thestop or stops it,

with the horizontal bearingwheel D and the oscillating plate K,substantially as specified.

SAMUEL H. TERRY.

Witnesses:

B. A. PRICE, ALBERT H. ADAMS.

